Dora McPhee (VIC) responds to Dor Shapira SMH (Letters 14/7) PUBLISHED July 14, 2009
Spokesman for Israel, Dor Shapira, is very happy to invoke the rule of law when it suits but turns a blind eye to decades of serial violations of international law, binding UN resolutions and the 4th Geneva Convention by Israel. This creative use of laws when it suits has allowed Israel to dispossess the Palestinians of much of their ancestral lands, which lies as the heart of the conflict. But leaving that aside, his claim that humanitarian aid is getting through to Gaza flies in the face of the United Nations and the Red Cross telling us that there are severe shortages. The trucks of aid allowed in by Israel are one-fifth of the number that were allowed in two years ago and that was inadequate then.
Special UN Rappatour, Richard Falk, condemned Israel’s continuing blockade of Gaza and said the ongoing restrictions of vital food, fuel and medical supplies to bare subsistence levels is such a serious violation of the Geneva Conventions as to constitute a continuing crime against humanity. He called the seizure of the peace activist boat bringing aid to Gaza “unlawful” but then Israel already showed its impunity when last year, it deported and prevented Falk from carrying out his UN mandated duties to report on the true effects of the siege. The aim of the peace activists is above all symbolic in highlighting to the world the continued collective punishment of 1.5 million people by the state of Israel. Collective punishment of the civilian population is a war crime and Israel violates international law every day on this count. So just who is calling the kettle black here?
Dor Shapira’s letter “Under Israeli Control”, The Sydney Morning Herald, 13 July 09
Regarding “Politicide or politic: Gillard and the Gaza muzzle” (July 10). Accusations of piracy do not take into account the internationally recognised Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on West Bank and Gaza (1995), which determines that territorial waters off the Gaza coast are under Israeli security control.
On June 30 an Israeli naval force took control of a cargo boat attempting to enter the Gaza Strip. Following radio calls, which were ignored, the boat was boarded and directed to Ashdod. The ship and cargo were undamaged, and passengers were handed over to the relevant authorities. They were provided with diplomatic access and legal representation, then sent home at Israeli Government expense.
The law of Cyprus, from where the boat departed, states that ships must dock at recognised ports only, and, according to Cyprus authorities, Gaza is not one of these. So the boat and its passengers were in contravention of Cyprus law. Before leaving Cyprus, the vessel was instructed by the Israeli authorities that humanitarian aid is permitted to enter Gaza through land channels, and that attempts by sea would be intercepted. At Ashdod, the Israeli authorities assumed responsibility for ensuring the humanitarian aid on board was sent to the citizens of Gaza.
In the last few months, 300,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid has been received by Palestinians in Gaza by land. In December and January, a Israeli suspension of hostilities for three hours a day ensured a resupply of relief materials and the evacuation of foreign nationals, foreign passport holders and chronically ill patients for treatment in Israel.
Hamas continued to fire rockets during this. Twice, as reported by international news wires, humanitarian convoys were fired upon by Hamas in Gaza, and the materials confiscated or stolen.
The protesters on the boat claimed its purpose was to break the siege, when, in truth, the stunt was a political provocation that deliberately flouts recognised international agreements.
Dor Shapira, spokesman, embassy of Israel, Canberra
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